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5th Grade Science MCAS Review

Total questions: 62

Worksheet time: 47mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Students used sand, gravel, and a coffee filter to make a simple water filter. A diagram of the water filter is shown.


Which of the following should the students observe or measure to find out how well the water filter works?

a)

how clear the filtered water is

b)

how much water needs to be filtered

c)

the length and width of the water filter

d)

the amount of sand used to make the water filter

2.

Students grew vegetable plants in their school’s garden. They learned that waste from the vegetables can be composted. When vegetable waste is placed in a composter, bacteria help turn the waste into compost over time. The compost can then be used in a garden. The students made this model to show how matter moves through a composter and a garden.


The vegetable plants in the school garden used photosynthesis to grow. Which of the following describes how the vegetable plants use photosynthesis to grow?

a)

In photosynthesis, vegetable plants use the energy from sunlight to convert air and water into sugar.

b)

In photosynthesis, vegetable plants use the energy from sugar to convert sunlight into air and water.

c)

In photosynthesis, vegetable plants use the energy from air and water to convert sunlight into sugar.

d)

In photosynthesis, vegetable plants use the energy from sunlight to convert sugar into air and water.

3.

The students designed and built two composter prototypes. The diagrams show the designs of the two prototypes. Composter 1 has wooden sides and its top is open to the air. The vegetable waste in the composter is mixed once a week, which exposes the waste to air. Composter 2 has sides made of wire mesh and a wooden divider that creates two separate sections. All the vegetable waste is first placed in one section. After a week, the vegetable waste is moved to the other side of the divider. As the vegetable waste is moved from one side to the other, it is mixed and exposed to air.


The students added the same amount and type of vegetable waste to each composter. After several weeks, they noticed that the waste in composter 2 was breaking down faster than the waste in composter 1. Which of the following changes could the students make to composter 1 so that waste breaks down more quickly?

a)

drill many small holes in each side

b)

cover the top with a lid made out of wire mesh

c)

cover the top with a lid made out of clear plastic

d)

replace the wooden sides with thick plastic sides

4.

Bacteria play an important role in the movement of matter in the students’ model. Which of the following describes the role of bacteria in a composter?

a)

Bacteria in a composter are producers because they produce sugars.

b)

Bacteria in a composter are composers because they produce sugars.

c)

Bacteria in a composter are consumers because they recycle materials.

d)

Bacteria in a composter are decomposers because they recycle materials.

5.

A town is having a water shortage, and the people in the town have been asked to reduce their use of the town’s water supply. A gardener wants to continue to water plants in a garden.


Which of the following would be the most effective way to water the plants and still reduce water use?

a)

use soapy water

b)

use filtered water

c)

use water from water bottles sold in stores

d)

use water from rain collected in large containers

6.

A scientist finds the fossils shown in the rock layers in this diagram.


Which of the following best explains why scientists study fossils?

a)

to learn about rocks that formed many years ago

b)

to learn about different types of very old minerals

c)

to learn about extinct organisms that lived long ago

d)

to learn about ancient technologies humans once used

7.

A student places a wooden block next to a meter stick and then tapes a bar magnet on top of the block. Next, the student tapes a bar magnet to the roof of a toy car. The car is placed beside the meter stick, next to the bar magnet. The diagram below shows what the student observed before and after the car was released.


What question is the student most likely trying to answer from this setup?

a)

How far can the magnets pull the car?

b)

How far can the magnets push the car?

c)

Is a force applied by the car to the magnet on the car?

d)

Is the magnet on the block attracted to or repelled by the car?

8.

The tables show average temperature and precipitation data for four regions of the world.


Which region is most likely a tropical rainforest?

a)

region W

b)

region X

c)

region Y

d)

region Z

9.

Which of the following statements best describes how Earth moves in the six months from June 21 to December 21?

a)

Earth makes half a rotation on its axis.

b)

Earth moves farther away from the Sun.

c)

Earth makes half a revolution around the Sun.

d)

Earth begins to rotate more slowly in its orbit.

10.

Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice in the Arctic. Warming Arctic temperatures have reduced the amount of ice, making it hard for polar bears to find food.


How has the reduced amount of sea ice most likely affected polar bears?

a)

They swim less often.

b)

Their fur is changing color.

c)

They must eat a lot more food.

d)

Their population size is decreasing.

11.

The diagram shows parts of a bicycle that make the bicycle move.


When the pedal of the bicycle is turned, the front gear, rear gear, and wheel turn. Which of the following best describes the function of the chain?

a)

The chain keeps the spokes attached to the wheel.

b)

The chain keeps the wheel attached to the front gear.

c)

The chain transfers energy from the pedal to the front gear.

d)

The chain transfers motion from the front gear to the rear gear.

12.
Ben is conducting an investigation to compare the speed at which two insects travel along the ground. Which two tools should he include in his investigation?
a)
meter stick and stopwatch
b)
graduated cylinder and balance.
c)
microscope and ruler
d)
thermometer and scale
13.
Which statement best explains how scientist use a telescope?
a)
To see things that are far away.
b)
To see things that are very small.
c)
To hear things that are far away.
d)
To hear sounds that are very quiet.
14.

During a science experiment, a student observes that a plant grows faster under blue light than under red light.


What is the student most likely investigating in this experiment?

a)

The effect of light color on plant growth.

b)

The effect of light intensity on plant growth.

c)

The effect of soil type on plant growth.

d)

The effect of water amount on plant growth.

15.

In an experiment, a student uses a solar panel to convert sunlight into electricity to power a small fan.


Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the solar panel in this experiment?

a)

To increase the temperature of the fan.

b)

To convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

c)

To convert solar energy into electrical energy.

d)

To store electrical energy for later use.

16.
A group of organisms of one species that live in an area at the same time.
a)
Ecosystem
b)
Population
c)
Producers
d)
Predators
17.
What is the name for an animal that eats only plants?
a)
Carnivore
b)
Prey
c)
Herbivore
d)
Producer
18.
Producers are organisms that make their own food. Which of the following is a producer?
a)
Lion
b)
Shark
c)
Sunflower
d)
Gorilla
19.
A series of steps by which energy moves from one type of living thing to another.
a)
Food Chain
b)
Photosynthesis
c)
Commensalism
d)
Ecosystem
20.
An organism that gets its energy by breaking down wastes and dead organisms.
a)
Producer
b)
Consumer
c)
Decomposer
d)
Predator
21.
Which one of these animals is NOT a carnivore?
a)
Giraffe
b)
Lion
c)
Jaguar
d)
Cheetah
22.
Which one of these relationships is an example of "predator-prey?"
a)
Dog-Cat
b)
Lion-Zebra
c)
Mouse-Seeds
d)
Wolf-Velociraptor
23.
What is the name for all of the living and nonliving things in an area and their interactions?
a)
Family Group
b)
Species
c)
Population
d)
Ecosystem
24.
This word is another name for a living thing.
a)
Organism
b)
Object
c)
Operation
d)
Omnivore
25.
What is photosynthesis?
a)
Using lasers to destroy your enemies.
b)
Putting all of your pictures together in one group.
c)
The process by which plants make their own food.
d)
What happens when you take too many "selfies."
26.
Which one of these is NOT a reason an animal can become an endangered species?
a)
Too many of them have been killed by hunters.
b)
Their food sources have become scarce.
c)
New predators have invaded the area.
d)
They find new sources of food.
27.
What is a consumer?
a)
An animal that only eats other animals.
b)
A plant.
c)
An organism that cannot make their own food.
d)
A vegetarian.
28.
What is the name for a long-term relationship between two different organisms?
a)
Symbiosis
b)
Producer
c)
Ecosystem
d)
Population
29.
Raccoons eat bugs, fish, plants and trash. This means that raccoons are:
a)
Carnivores
b)
Producers
c)
Herbivores
d)
Omnivores
30.
This is a diagram that combines many food chains and uses arrows to show the energy relationship among organisms.
a)
Ecosystem
b)
Food Chain
c)
Food Web
d)
Symbiosis
31.
This is an example of a fast change that can happen to an environment. 
a)
A volcano erupts.
b)
Erosion.
c)
Glaciers melting.
d)
The climate changes.
32.

Weathered pieces of rock.

a)

pebbles

b)

sediment

c)

eroded

d)

shale

33.

Buried remains of ancient plants and animals that we now use as fuel.

a)

hydrocarbons

b)

alternative energy

c)

fossil fuels

d)

sediment

34.

Breaking down earth's materials at or near the surface.

a)

erosion

b)

weathering

c)

cementation

d)

deposition

35.

Wind or water carrying away weathered pieces of sediment.

a)

deposition

b)

weathering

c)

erosion

d)

cementation

36.

Sediment is eroded, deposited, buried, mixed with surrounding material, and cemented together from heat and pressure.

a)

weathering

b)

deposition

c)

cementation

d)

compression

37.

Eroded sediment finds a new home.

a)

weathering

b)

deposition

c)

compaction

d)

cementation

38.

The solid innermost portion of our Earth.

a)

outer core

b)

mantle

c)

inner core

d)

crust

39.

This layer of Earth is made of magma and is between the crust and core.

a)

crust

b)

mantle

c)

core

d)

outer core

40.

The outermost layer of Earth composed mainly of rock.

a)

crust

b)

mantle

c)

core

d)

outer core

41.

Gas surrounding Earth made of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.

a)

lake effect

b)

greenhouse gas

c)

atmosphere

d)

climate

42.

Orbit or movement around the sun.

a)

rotation

b)

revolution

43.

Spinning of a planet on its axis.

a)

rotation

b)

revolution

44.

Earth rotates on this imaginary line.

a)

diagonal

b)

axis

c)

radius

d)

diameter

45.

Which of the following explains why we have night and day?

a)

the phase of the moon

b)

the rotation of Earth on its axis

c)

the revolution of Earth around the sun

d)

the alignment of planets

46.
Which of the following best identifies Non-Renewable Energy?
a)
Resources found above ground and underground
b)
Resources that produce clean energy (less pollution)
c)
Resources that can be made again
d)
Resources that cannot be made again for millions of years. 
47.

The _______________ during an experiment is what changes or is different.

a)

hypothesis

b)

conclusion

c)

variable

d)

conclusion

48.
What process changes liquid water into vapor?
a)
1 - sun's radiation
b)
2 - condensation
c)
3 - evaporation
d)
4 - precipitation
49.
What are the 3 states of matter?
a)
Water, air, ball
b)
mass, volume, grams
c)
solid, liquid, gas
d)
chair, table, pencil
50.

You use this instrument to measure temperature.

a)

sieve

b)

hot plate

c)

anemometer

d)

thermometer

51.

If you want to make tiny objects look bigger in the science lab you will use a _______________.

a)

rain gauge

b)

microscope

c)

telescope

d)

timer

52.

What is happening in the picture?

a)

weathering

b)

erosion

c)

depostion

d)

flooding

53.
A fossil is
a)
the imprint or remains of something that lived long ago
b)
sedimentary rock formed from layers of sand and mud
c)
the soft part of the animal from long ago
54.
which is not an example of an inherited trait
a)
how tall a person is
b)
a person's eye color
c)
a cut on person's hand
d)
foot size
55.
which is a learned behavior?
a)
a dog barking when threatened
b)
a dog's hair color
c)
a dog returning the same place for food everyday
d)
a dog breathing
56.
Which answer choice has the planets placed IN ORDER?
a)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Earth, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus Neptune
b)
Mercury, Earth, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus Neptune
c)
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus Neptune
d)
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
57.

What pulls objects to the center of the Earth?

a)

the sun

b)

the moon

c)

the tides

d)

gravity

58.

What time of day is a shadow the shortest?

a)

morning

b)

evening

c)

noon

59.

What does it mean for an object to be opaque?

a)

An object is considered opaque when it allows light to pass through it.

b)

An object is considered opaque when it is transparent.

c)

An object is considered opaque when it does not allow light to pass through it.

d)

An object is considered opaque when it is translucent.

60.

What does it mean for an object to be transparent?

a)

Light can pass through it

b)

It reflects all light that hits it.

c)

Light cannot pass through it at all.

d)

It absorbs all light that hits it.

61.

What does it mean for an object to be translucent?

a)

Reflects all light

b)

Allows some light to pass through

c)

Absorbs all light

d)

Does not allow any light to pass through

62.

What does it mean for an object to be reflective?

a)

It can absorb light or other forms of radiation.

b)

It can emit light or other forms of radiation.

c)

It can reflect light or other forms of radiation.

d)

It can generate electricity or other forms of energy.